Tufted mattress construction



1 GITLIN 2,756,443

TUFTED MATTRESS CONSTRUCTION July 31, 1956 Filed Dec. 24. 1952 .4 A f 15 C? L Y u' v k Q4 T fl @6 Q8 f ff O I l dag@ 2 Anim-L IN V ENTO R ou/5 G/TL Ml BLYWJ Zulke);

ATTO R N EY States mater hice TUFTED MATTRESS 'CONSTRUCTION Louis Gitlin, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 24, 1952, Serial No. 327,818

1 Claim. (Cl. 5 356) This invention relates to a tufted mattress construction.

'Ihe invention applies principally to mattresses both spring mattresses and also mattresses made of all-filling material such as hair, cotton, cotton felt, kapok, ber, etc. It is also applicable to cushions for day beds, sofas, studio couches, upholstered chairs and the like and also to upholstered furniture generally where tufting is either desired or required. For purposes of convenience and illustration, however, the invention will be described solely in terms of its application to mattresses but it will be understood that this is not intended to be limitative of the invention and of the scope of the claim in any respect whatsoever.

A conventional tufted mattress is provided with a plurality of tufting buttons which constitute a source of discomfort and annoyance to those using the mattress. In the normal course of use of a conventional mattresss, some of these tufting buttons tend to loosen and to project at various angles with respect to the horizontal. They tend to catch the sheets which cover the mattress and to dig into the person of those reclining thereon. The buttons also interfere with the cleaning of the mattress since they tend to obstruct the use of a vacuum cleaner or a vacuum cleaner attachment thereon and, similarly, a Whisk broom or brush. Furthermore, the tufting buttons tend to collect or accumulate dust and lint and other foreign particles of matter underneath them which a Vacuum cleaner cannot reach. Moreover, holes are formed in the mattress ticking or covering for the tufting cords to which the tufting buttons are fastened and these holes tend to weaken the ticking or covering and, in time, they enlarge to the extent of allowing the tufting buttons to pass through, in which case the tuft is destroyed and the structure of the mattress is weakened. It is also frequently the case that the tufting buttons tear loose from the mattress and once they are detached therefrom, the tufts or indentations in the mattress disappear.

Even when the tufting buttons remain in place, there is the disadvantage that is inherent in the holes through which the tufting cords extend, and reference is here made to the holes both in the lining and in the ticking or covering of the mattress. These holes serve as passageways through which the padding or stuiing of the mattress is able to work its way through the lining and ticking.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a tufted mattress wherein the tufting cords are secured to the underside or inside of the ticking or covering so as to provide a tufted construction without the use of tufting buttons or their equivalents. No fastening elements of any kind are provided in this construction on the outside of the ticking or covering. Instead, the tufting cords aresecured to loops which are provided on the underside of the ticking or covering. These loops are sewed to the ticking or covering and all that can be seen on the outside are the stitches which hold the loops in place.

The advantages of this construction are many, as will clearly be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, it dispenses with tufting buttons entirely or with anything that might be considered a substitute for tufting buttons. In the second place, it dispenses with the need of puncturing holes in the ticking or covering. It constitutes a simpler and stronger and less expensive tufting construction than the conventional tufting constructions which involve the use of tufting buttons. A more sanitary mattress and one which affords greater comfort is thereby provided. There are no outside projections or elements to catch the bed sheets or to catch dust or other foreign matter or to dig into the person of those who recline on the mattress.

Preferred forms of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a detailed, fragmentary section through a mattress made in accordance with one form of this invention, showing the loops which are fastened to the underside or inside of the ticking or covering and showing the tufting cords drawn through and secured to said loops, thereby imparting a tufted effect to the mattress.

Fig. 2 is another fragmentary view in section showing another method of securing the tufting cords to the loops, this method involving the use of hook-shaped members or the like which are secured to the tufting cords and which are hooked through the loops.

Fig. 3 is another fragmentary view showing still another means of interengaging loops which are secured to the ticking or covering of the mattress.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section through a mattress made in accordance with a second form of this invention, showing the tufting cords secured to the ticking or covering on one side of the mattress and drawn through a loop which is secured to the ticking or covering on the opposite side of the mattress.

Mattress 10 shown in the drawing is a conventional spring mattress except for the means which is therein shown for tufting the same. There is an inner spring 12, which is simply one of a plurality of such springs, a sheet of burlap material 14 or the like on one end of the spring, a second sheet of burlap material 16 or the like on the other end of said spring, padding 18 on burlap 14, a lining of muslin 20 or the like on padding 18 and an outer covering or ticking 22 on saidlining, padding 24 against burlap 16, a second lining 25 against padding 24 and a second ticking or covering 28 against said lining 26. The springs may be tied together in conventional fashion and there may be a frame of conventional construction.

The tufting means which is herein claimed is clearly shown in Fig. 1. It comprises a tape 30 and a tufting cord 32. The tape is secured to the underside of covering 22 and to the underside of covering 28 by means of stitches 34. The drawing shows that tape 39 is stitched at four points to the covering but it will be understood that it may be stitched only at two points and the purposes of this invention will be adequately served.

The tape is stitched to the ticking or covering to form a loop through which the tufting cord 32 may be drawn. There are as many tapes 30 on the covering or ticking 22 and as many tapes 30 on the covering or ticking 23 as there are tufts in the mattress. The tufting cord is threaded through a tufting needle which is inserted through the mattress, exclusive of the two outer coverings or tickings, and the cord is then looped through tapes 3% and tied to them in the manner shown in Fig. l. The tufting cord may be tied at each end to a tape 30 or it may be looped through the tapes and then tied in such manner as would prevent it from disengaging the tapes. In either case, the tufting cord would be anchored at both ends to tapes 30y and it would be drawn as taut as desired. This would produce a tufting effect at both ends or ticking.

`of thetufting cord as the drawing clearly shows. The

depth of the tufts depends upon how taut the tufting cord is pulled or tied.

lt will be noted that in this tufting method, Vthe tufting needle pierces only the burlap, padding or stuffing and lining butit does not pierce the outer covering or ticking. The tufting cord projects through the burlap, padding and lining but it does not project through the outer covering There is no need in this construction for the use of tufting buttons or. the like on the outside of the outerV covering or ticking which would press inwardly against the covering Vor ticking to produce a tufting effect. In a conventional tufted mattress, the tufting `buttons, are pulled together .by a tufting cord butthey themselves exert what may be described as a pushing force against the outer covering or ticking to produce the tufts. VIn the present construction, a pulling force, as distinguished from a pushing force, is exerted upon the outer covering or ticking through the instrumentality of tapes or loops 3i) to which the tufting cords 32 are secured. Consequently there is no need for any external means to beappli'ed to v l Vthe covering or ticking but it suffices that tapes or loops be securedby stitching or thevliketo the inside or under-surface of the covering or ticking.V

A modified constructiony is shown in Fig. 2. j lt will there be noted that tufting cord 40 is secured at each end to a hook member 42 which in turn is looped through tap/e or loop 30 on covering or ticking 22 or 28. 'This hook arrangement is intended to substitute for the method of looping the tufting cord itself through. the tapes or loops 30. VIn either case, the tufting cord is securedI at bothends tothe looped tapes 30 which 'are sewedto the underside or inside of the covering or ticking. i

It is an object of this invention to limit the number of Yholes which would have to be formed in the mattress for arrangement kof Fig. 2 is used in the place and stead of the j hookless arrangement of Fig. l.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that loops Sil' are secured to the inner, facing sides of the two covering members 22 and 2S respectively in the manner previously described, that is, by being sewn thereto. Coil springs 50 are provided, one end engaging loop. 30 'on covering 22 and the other end engaging loop Silken covering 28.

These springs serve as tufting'cords which eXert suliicient.v

tension to provide a tufted effect. All thatrneed be done to install these springs and to provide such tufting effect is simply to hook the ends of the springs. into loops 30.

Turning now to Fig. 4, it will be seenthat a mattress 52 is provided which is of the springlesstype. It has a pair of outer coverings 54 and V56 respectively, a pair of linings 5S and 60 respectively, padding 62 and 64, a pair of inner linings 66 and 68, generally made of burlap and' an inner filling 76 whichriills the space between the twoV burlap linings` 66 and 68. Wherever a tuft is desired, a tufting cord 72 is secured intermediate its ends to the underside or inner side of the ymattress covering 54 and in registration thereof a loop 74 is secured to the inner or underside of covering 56. The tufting cord andthe loop may be sewn to the two coverings or they may be secured` thereto by any other suitable means, such ascementing, riveting or in any other suitable manner. This, of course, is also true of loops 30 previouslyY mentioned.

Each tufting cord 72 is drawn through the several layers of the mattress as Fig. 4 clearly shows and one of its ends is drawn through loop 74 and then tied in a knot to the opposite end of said tufting cord. The tufting cord is pulled tight so as Lto provide the desired tufting effect.

This construction differs from the construction shown in Fig. 1 in the following respect: Inflig. l the tufting cords are not attached directly to the'coverings of the mattress. Instead, loops are attached to the coverings and l the tufting cords are drawn through said loops. in the I construction shown in Fig.y 4, loops arersecuredV to only one of the coverings of the mattress and the tuftingy cords are thus secured to the other covering of the mattress. The ends of the tufting cords are then brought' into engagement with the loops. in the manner described.

The foregoing is illustrative of preferred forms of' this invention and it will be understood that other preferred forms and modifications of the illustrated forms may be provided withinthe broad spirit of the invention and the broad scope of the claim.

I claim:

A tufted mattress construction, comprising a mattress having an outer covering on one side and a second outer covering on the opposite side, a plurality of tapes whose ends are sewn together to form looped tapes, said looped tapes being sewn to the inner side of the first covering',

a corresponding number of tufting cords sewn intermediate their ends to the inner side of the second covering in registration with said looped tapes of the rst covering,`

one end of each said tufting cord being drawn through its registering looped tape and beingpulled taut and tied to the opposite end of the tufting cord to pull those portions of the two coverings to which said looped tapes and tufting cords are respectively sewn toward each other to form tufts.

References Cited in the le of this patent `UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 14, 1936 

